Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid (2018 year). Manual

370

Driving

Before Driving

Driving Preparation

Check the following items before you start driving.

• Make sure there are no obstructions on the windows, door mirrors, exterior

lights, or other parts of the vehicle.

Remove any frost, snow, or ice.

Remove any snow on the roof, as this can slip down and obstruct your field of
vision while driving. If frozen solid, remove ice once it has softened.

When removing ice from around the wheels, be sure not to damage the wheel
or wheel components.

• Make sure the hood is securely closed.

If the hood opens while driving, your front view will be blocked.

• Make sure the tires are in good condition.

Check air pressures, and check for damage and excessive wear.

2 Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 499

• Make sure there are no people or objects behind or around the vehicle.

There are blind spots from the inside.

• Disconnect the charging cable.

■

Exterior Checks

Exterior Checks

NOTICE

When doors are frozen shut, use warm water around
the door edges to melt any ice. Do not try to force
them open, as this can damage the rubber trim
around the doors. When done, wipe dry to avoid
further freezing.

Do not pour warm water into the key cylinder.
You will be unable to insert the key if the water
freezes in the hole.

Heat from the engine and exhaust can ignite
flammable materials left under the hood, causing a
fire. If you’ve parked your vehicle for an extended
period, inspect and remove any debris that may have
collected, such as dried grass and leaves that have
fallen or have been carried in for use as a nest by a
small animal. Also check under the hood for leftover
flammable materials after you or someone else has
performed maintenance on your vehicle.

Continued

371

Before Driving

Driving Preparation

Driving

• Store or secure all items on board properly.

Carrying too much cargo, or improperly storing it, can affect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, stopping distance, and tires, and make it unsafe.

2 Maximum Load Limit P. 373

• Do not pile items higher than the seat height.

They can block your view and may be thrown forward in the event of sudden
braking.

• Do not place anything in the front seat footwells. Make sure to secure the floor

mat.

An object or unsecured floor mat can interfere with your brake and accelerator
pedal operation while driving.

• If you have any animals on board, do not let them move around in the vehicle.

They may interfere with driving and a crash could occur.

• Securely close and lock all doors and the trunk.

2 Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside P. 146

• Adjust your seating position properly.

Adjust the head restraint, too.

2 Adjusting the Seats P. 175
2 Adjusting the Front Head Restraints Positions P. 178

• Adjust the mirrors and steering wheel properly for your driving.

Adjust them while sitting in the proper driving position.

2 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 173
2 Adjusting the Steering Wheel P. 172

■

Interior Checks

Interior Checks

The headlight aim is set by the factory, and does not
need to be adjusted. However, if you regularly carry
heavy items in the trunk, have the aiming readjusted
at an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid dealer
or by a qualified technician.

372

Before Driving

Driving Preparation

Driving

• Be sure items placed on the floor behind the front seats cannot roll under the

seats.

They can interfere with the driver’s ability to operate the pedals, the operation
of the seats, or the operation of the sensors under the seats.

• Everyone in the vehicle must fasten their seat belt.

2 Fastening a Seat Belt P. 50

• Make sure that the indicators in the instrument panel come on when you start the

vehicle, and go off soon after.

Always have an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid dealer check the
vehicle if a problem is indicated.

2 Indicators P. 86

373

Before Driving

Maximum Load Limit

Continued

Driving

Maximum Load Limit

The maximum load for your vehicle is 850 lbs (385 kg). See the Tire
and Loading Information label attached to the driver’s doorjamb.

This figure includes the total weight of all occupants, cargo, and
accessories, and the tongue load if you are towing a trailer.

Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit -
(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and

cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your
vehicle’s placard.

(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers

that will be riding in your vehicle.

(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers

from XXX kg or XXX lbs.

(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and

luggage load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs.
(1,400 - 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)

Maximum Load Limit

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR):
The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all accessories and all cargo.

2 Specifications P. 566

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR):
The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle axle.

2 Specifications P. 566

WARNING

Overloading or improper loading
can affect handling and stability
and cause a crash in which you
can be hurt or killed.

Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this manual.

Label Example

374

Before Driving

Maximum Load Limit

Driving

(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being

loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in step 4.

(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will

be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.

In addition, the total weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
accessories, cargo, and trailer tongue load must not exceed the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). Both are on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.

Load Limits Example

Example1

Max Load

850 lbs

(385 kg)

Passenger Weight

150 lbs x 2 = 300 lbs

(68 kg x 2 = 136 kg)

Cargo Weight

550 lbs

(249 kg)

Example2

Max Load

850 lbs

(385 kg)

Passenger Weight

150 lbs x 5 = 750 lbs

(68 kg x 5 = 340 kg)

Cargo Weight

100 lbs
(45 kg)

375

Driving

Towing a Trailer

Your vehicle is not designed to tow a trailer. Attempting to do so can void your
warranties.

Towing Your Vehicle

Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs
to be towed in an emergency, refer to the emergency towing information.

2 Emergency Towing P. 561

376

Driving

When Driving

Turning on the Power

1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.

2. Depress the brake pedal.

When Driving

When you set the power mode to ON, you may feel
as if the brake pedal is sinking down. This is normal.

Turning on the Power

Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the power system.

The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).

When turning on the power system in cold weather,
turn off all electrical accessories such as the lights,
climate control system, and rear defogger in order to
reduce 12-volt battery drain.

If the temperature of the High Voltage battery drops
below approximately –22°F (–30°C), the power
system will not start, the High Voltage battery will not
operate and, as a result, the vehicle will not start.
Store the vehicle in a garage or take another measure
to insure that temperature of the High Voltage
battery does not fall below this temperature. If
necessary, consult an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-
In Hybrid dealer.

U.S. models

Electric Parking
Brake Switch

Brake Pedal

Continued

377

When Driving

Turning on the Power

Driving

3. Press the POWER button without

depressing the accelerator pedal.

The Ready To Drive message appears
on the driver information interface.

When the ambient temperature is
extremely low, the vehicle does not move
until certain conditions are met.
A warning message appears instead of
Ready To Drive.

2 Driver Information Interface

Warning and Information Messages
P. 103

If the High Voltage battery is fully
charged, the gasoline engine may not
start.

If the High Voltage battery charge level is
low, the gasoline engine starts.

Turning on the Power

If the temperature of the High Voltage battery drops
to approximately –22°F (–30°C) or below, the power
system will not start. Wait for the High Voltage
battery to warm up or move the vehicle to a warmer
location. Note plugging the vehicle in will not help in
this case.
Store the vehicle in a garage or take another measure
to insure that temperature of the High Voltage
battery does not fall below this temperature. If
necessary, consult an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-
In Hybrid dealer.

If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-In
Hybrid dealer. There may be a problem with the
engine or exhaust system.

The immobilizer system protects your vehicle from
theft.
If an improperly coded device is used, the power
system does not activate.

2 Immobilizer System P. 153

Canadian models

When Driving

Turning on the Power

378

Driving

You can turn the power system off when the vehicle is completely stopped.
1. Put the transmission into

(

2. Press the POWER button.

■

Stopping the Power System

Turning on the Power

Bring the smart entry remote close to the POWER
button if the battery in the smart entry remote is
weak.

2 If the Smart Entry Remote Battery is Weak

P. 537

The power system may not activate if the smart entry
remote is subjected to strong radio waves.

Do not hold the POWER button to start the power
system.
If the power system does not start, wait at least 30
seconds before trying again.

379

When Driving

Turning on the Power

Driving

1. Keeping your right foot on the brake pedal, press the

(

D button. Select

(

R when

reversing.

2. With the parking brake applied, release the brake pedal and gently depress the

accelerator pedal.

Make sure the parking brake and brake system indicator (red) goes off.

2 Parking Brake P. 431

■

Hill Start Assist System

Hill start assist keeps the brake engaged briefly to help prevent the vehicle from
rolling on inclines as you move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.

Change to

(

D when facing uphill, or

(

R when facing downhill, then release the

brake pedal.

■

Starting to Drive

Starting to Drive

You can also release the parking brake by pressing
the electric parking brake switch while depressing the
brake pedal.
When facing downhill, you can start your vehicle
more smoothly by manually releasing it with the
electric parking brake switch than by releasing it with
the accelerator pedal.

Hill Start Assist System

Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from
rolling downhill on a very steep or slippery slope, and
does not operate on small inclines.

Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking
brake.

380

When Driving

Precautions While Driving

Driving

Precautions While Driving

Avoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the power
system or driveline, or cause electrical component failure.

■

In Rain

Precautions While Driving

NOTICE

Do not select a shift button while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.

NOTICE

The following can damage the rear frames and rear
suspensions. Be careful when driving.

•

Backing up the vehicle into a space with a parking
block or road shoulder

•

Driving up or down to a different surface level
(such as a road shoulder)

•

Driving on a road with potholes

NOTICE

If you repeatedly turn the steering wheel at an
extremely low speed, or hold the steering wheel in
the full left or right position for a while, the electric
power steering (EPS) system heats up. The system
goes into a protective mode, and limits its
performance. The steering wheel becomes harder
and harder to operate. Once the system cools down,
the EPS system is restored.
Repeated operation under these conditions can
eventually damage the system.

If the power mode is set to ACCESSORY while
driving, the power system will shut down and all
steering and brake power assist functions will stop,
making it difficult to control the vehicle.

381

When Driving

Transmission

Driving

If there is a strong impact with something under the vehicle, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicle for damage or any fluid leaks, and contact an
authorized Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid dealer.

Transmission

As with a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle with an automatic transmission,
this vehicle will creep.
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.

Quickly depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill may cause the vehicle
to react similar to an automatic transmission vehicle, unexpectedly increasing vehicle
speed. Depress the accelerator pedal carefully, especially on slippery roads and
curves.

■

Other Precautions

■

Creeping

■

Kickdown

Precautions While Driving

Do not press the

(

N button, as you will lose

regenerative braking (and acceleration) performance.

During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as to not damage the engine or powertrain.

Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this when the brake pads are
replaced.

382

When Driving

Shifting

Driving

Shifting

Change the gear position in accordance with your driving needs.

■

Shift button positions

Shifting

To prevent malfunction and unintended
engagement:

•

Do not spill any liquids on or around shift buttons.

•

Do not place or drop any objects on or around shift
buttons.

•

Do not let passengers or children operate the shift
buttons.

You may occasionally find that it takes longer than
usual for the vehicle to start moving when you select

(

R, release the brake pedal, and/or depress the

accelerator pedal. This may occur when the High
Voltage battery level is extremely low, and does not
indicate a vehicle malfunction.

WARNING

The vehicle can roll away if left unattended
without confirming that Park is engaged.

A vehicle that rolls away could cause a crash
resulting in serious injury or death.

Always keep your foot on the brake pedal
until you have confirmed that

(

is shown

on the gear position indicator.

Park
Used when parking or before turning the
power on or off

Reverse
Used when reversing

Neutral
Transmission is not locked

Drive
Used for:
Normal driving

●

The deceleration paddle selector can be
used temporarily.
The deceleration paddle selector can be
used when SPORT mode is on.

Continued

383

When Driving

Shifting

Driving

■

(

P (parking) button

The gear position changes to

(

P when you

press the

(

P button while the vehicle is

parked with the power mode in ON.
The indicators on the sides of the

(

P button

come on.

Shifting

The beeper sounds and the message appears on the
driver information interface when you depress the
accelerator pedal with the gear position in

(

Change the gear position to

(

D or

(

R with the brake

pedal depressed.

(

P Button

Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid (2018 year). Manual - part 24